“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh Succos 5787
14 Tishrei 5786/ September 25, 2026
SURROUND SOUND
Just how valuable are good neighbors?
The Staum family moved into our current home at 3 Landau Lane, almost 18 years ago. At the time, the apartment in the Blueberry Hill complex we were living in was a long walk away from Kehillat New Hempstead, where I was the Rabbi.
When we moved into our new home, it was still an arduous walk from and to Kehillat New Hempstead, requiring a trek up and then down a mountain in both directions. But at least it was in the general neighborhood of the shul. The bigger issue was that we had no frum neighbors. Shabbos day was lonely and difficult, especially for my wife and our younger children.
After a few years of the lonely situation, we made the difficult decision to put our house up for sale. Sad as we were to leave our house, we resolved to look for a house closer to the general neighborhood, as the situation was becoming increasingly untenable.
It was during that time that the Gross family moved in next-door at 5 Landau Lane. Our families immediately became very close, and it was literally a game changer for us. When they moved and joined the two other families already here, many other wonderful families followed suit.
We are incredibly grateful to Hashem for our neighbors and our beautiful community. With the help of Hashem, the “up the hill” community of New Hempstead already boasts more than one shul. Our shul, Kehillas Zichron Yaakov, recently moved into its beautiful new home, even while still in the process of completing its construction. In fact, the Shabbos of our son Dovid’s bar mitzvah was the first week that we davened in the new shul.
In the second Perek of Pirkei Avos, Rabbi Yochanan asks his students to go out and ponder the path most beneficial for a person. Rabbi Yosi returns and states that having a good neighbor is the optimal good path. To be surrounded by kindhearted, G-d fearing, Torah observant people has a significant, positive influence on a person.
In “Birchas Hachodesh” recited each month we daven for various blessings of life. It is enigmatic that one of those requests is repeated. “Life that contains fear of Heaven and fear of sin, life that has in it love of Torah and fear of Heaven…” Why do we repeat our request for Fear of Heaven?
Rav Pinchos Teitz zt’l explained that the first time we request, “chaim sheyesh bahem” a life that inherently possesses fear of Heaven. It is a prayer that we should be surrounded with neighbors, friends, and acquaintances who are G-d-fearing so that it will penetrate our souls and inevitably have a positive effect on us. The second time we ask for “chaim shet’hei vanu” fear of Heaven within ourselves, i.e., that we ourselves become G-d Fearing.
It is so much easier to do what’s right when one is surrounded by others who seek to live their life properly as well.
An important component of Succos is about what surrounds us and what we surround.
Under the chuppah a chosson places a ring upon his kallah’s finger, symbolically committing himself to be her protective wall. He pledges to circle her like that ring, prioritizing her above all else, and to always be thinking about her. She in turn circles around him seven times, wordlessly pledging to do/be the same for him.
On Succos we enter the Succah where we are surrounded and enveloped with its holy atmosphere. We also take the Four Species in our hands and shake them in all directions, symbolizing Hashem’s control over the entire world. In addition, we circle the bimah while holding the Four Species.
On Simchas Torah we again circle the bimah, this time while clutching the Sefer Torahs and while dancing energetically.
On Succos we are surrounded by Hashem’s Presence as we ourselves circle and surround the symbolic representation of our Avodah to Him.
The concentric circles of Succos demonstrate what we want to be surrounded with and what we choose to make the focus and center point of our lives.
On Yom Kippur we davened and begged for life. In a sense our request was for “chaim shet’hei vanu”, a life in which we are personally elevated and purified. On Succos however, we go a step further and seek “chaim sheyesh bahem” a life that is surrounded by spiritual growth.
After the spiritual levels we attained on Yom Kippur we have the difficult task of trying to maintain onto that growth and concretize it. When we are surrounded by others who also seek to consistently grow and accomplish, we are influenced and inspired to continue our spiritual ascent abetted by spiritual osmosis.
Mr. Rogers would sing about having and being a good neighbor. There’s nothing make-believe about that!
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos
Freilichen Yom Tov & Chag Sameiach,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum
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